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Same thing happens every year at Legislature

My predictions for the 2000 legislative session:

Education reform -- nothing.

Economic reform -- nothing.

Civil service reform -- nothing.

Fireworks -- nothing.

The Senate will blame the House. The House will blame the Senate. Democrats will blame Republicans. Republicans will blame Democrats.

The legislators will blame the governor. The governor will blame legislators. They will all blame the people of Hawaii for not understanding what a difficult job they have.

They will all pat themselves on the back for "trying" to do something. They will go home. We will re-elect them. Then the whole process starts over. Does anyone detect a pattern here?

Mark Middleton
Kapolei
Via the Internet

Ala Wai Golf Course should be left alone

The only reason Waikiki is still alive and thriving today is because its few large parcels of natural landscape have escaped the grasp of our politicians. Without the open expanse of Diamond Head, Fort DeRussy, Kapiolani Park and the Ala Wai Golf Course, Waikiki would be nothing but a beach with water on one side and a sea of cement on the other.

Now Governor Cayetano would have us turn the Ala Wai into a park "with commercial activities, restaurants, maybe an amphitheater for concerts, and maybe some shops, everything from your Starbucks to maybe some cultural things." This sounds like a shopping mall, not a park, again placing the profits of Waikiki businessmen above the pleasures and needs of the people.

Turning the golf course into a mini theme park is a Mickey Mouse idea. If local residents do not have ready access into and adequate parking in Waikiki today, how will the addition to this park guarantee them access and parking in the Waikiki of tomorrow?

Richard Y. Will

Many good points about legalized gambling

Our legislators should legalize "soft-core" gambling, such as the lottery, bingo, horseracing, shipboard casinos and pari-mutuel betting. Money derived from these entities can be earmarked for specific areas, such as education, pay raises for public employees and various social services that are in dire need.

Records show that over 40,000 Hawaii residents make that trek to Las Vegas every month and "donate" their hard-earned money to Nevada. Keep our people and their money home. Gambling in Hawaii would even enhance and promote tourism, which would really help our economy.

If our elected officials cannot or are afraid to take a stand on this issue, they should call for a vote and let the people decide.

Steven T.K. Burke
Pearl City
Via the Internet

Quotables "Gosh, I kinda blushed when I saw that sign. I guess somebody out there likes me." Bob Hogue FORMER CHANNEL 2 SPORTS ANCHORMAN About a sign on Kailua's "Christmas Tree Hill" alongside the highway that inquires, "Where is Bob Hogue?" after he was fired by the station "The city wants to turn it into a major tourist event like Disney with turnstiles, and we're saying no, no, no. This is Hawaii." Bob Ackerson MEMBER OF THE EAST HONOLULU COMMUNITY COALITION AND A HAWAII KAI RESIDENT On the city's development plans for Hanauma Bay

Everyone knows about rock-fall hazard

Laurent J. Remillard's Jan. 20 letter attempts to blame government for the Sacred Falls tragedy, saying that the state knew about the rock-fall hazard there.

Of course the state knew about it. Every hiker to the falls has to climb over car-sized boulders in the valley floor. Anyone with common sense (lawyers excluded) would have asked themselves where those massive boulders came from.

We all know the answer. Even Remilliard, regardless of being a lawyer representing some of the Sacred Falls victims and their families, knows the answer. Maybe he should sue himself for not stopping those poor hikers on that dreaded day.

Jeffrey Herman
Via the Internet

Campbell High is grateful after theft

Over the recent New Year's holiday, Campbell High School and its students were victimized by unknown criminal bullies. They cut and busted their way into a computer lab and grabbed 24 tangerine-colored Imacs.

That was the bad news; here's the great news: The community cares about our schools and their problems.

Thank you to the Estate of James Campbell, the James Campbell Foundation and the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for providing money to replace the computer lab; Sentinel Alarm Co. for alarm equipment for the new lab; and to all who called offering encouragement, metal doors and used equipment.

The iMac/Apple Computer folks offered technical assistance to get us back online, Ewa businesses gave computer time for individual students, and the KSSK/K-59 posse helped spread the word to our community.

But we want our computers back. We want the criminal bullies responsible to be brought to justice. Please contact Crimestoppers at 955-8300 or dial *CRIME on a cell phone.

Robert Elliott
Vice Principal
James Campbell High School
Ewa Beach

Progress is being made on Hawaiian issues

For many of us in the Hawaiian community, the appointment of Hamilton McCubbin as CEO of the Kamehameha Schools and the reorganization of the leadership of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees give us confidence in the progress of Hawaiian issues.

These individuals represent some of the finest leaders among Hawaiians today.

Pauline Nawahinokalai King
Via the Internet

More and more teens are driving drunk

The rate of teen-agers driving while drunk has skyrocketed. I am sick of hearing about more and more deaths caused by this pointless act.

I want teens everywhere to know that the consequences of doing this are devastating. If you are a teen who drinks, visit your local Alcoholics Anonymous. This will help you overcome the urge.

Please, by quitting drinking, this will help save thousands of lives.

Sarah Sentz
Via the Internet

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